Coccolori

I have to admit it. I chose Thailand as my travel destination because I heard it is easy to get around. How true. What that actually means I only discovered when I arrived in the country. Thai people are certainly not fond of walking as maybe some Central European populations such as the Germans and the Austrians and some inhabitants of Northern Italy like to do. In short: you only walk if you don't have the means to pay for some more comfortable transportation. So you can actually avoid walking at all, if you want. Apart from bicycles, scooters, cars, buses and trains there are several other typical Thai means of transport. One of the most common ways to get around are "tuk-tuk", some small three-wheeled vehicles. The always cruise on the street and often ask you if you need to get anywhere. In case that does not happen, just accidentally stick your hand out and they will readily arrive. You only have to haggle to get a good price and then the driver will drive you around town (and maybe, without you wanting him to do it, to the next shop where he gets a commission if he brings tourists keen on shopping). Another means of transport is some kind of small van. They are open at the back and have wooden benches to sit on and they are usually so old that they would pass the vehicle test in Europe. But they are cheap and a great way of getting around! Last thing that made me understand that I would never again walk around in the afternoon heat desperately looking for a guesthouse just happened three days ago. After a seven-hour train journey (for 1,5 Euros!) I arrived at the train station, a bit tired and a bit worried how I would get to the centre of town to find my guesthouse. Well, there is nothing easier than that. I had waited at the tourist information for about 7,5 seconds when a woman approached me and offered me free transportation to a guesthouse. So I just took my backpack and was taken to the guesthouse in an air-conditioned private van (well, I was the only passenger). In the next three days, however, some (hopefully) serious trekking is on the programme. Just to make sure that my feet will not forget how to function.